Trough hanger



March 1959 w. A. BERTRAM 2,879,961

TROUGH HANGER Filed April 5, 1954 r 15 6 1 N VEN TOR.

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United States Patent 2,879,961 TROUGHHANGER William A. Bertram, Chicago,Ill. Application-April -5, 1954, Serial No. 420,887

1 Claim. .(Cl. 243-481) This invention relates "to a hanger :for "use insecuring to a supporting surface, a "trough or the like i'havi'n'g theouter edge thereof otfs'et to form an inwardly extending ledge.

In applying a hanger to this type ="o'f trough, it is 'cu'stomary thatthe hanger merely grip the inwardly protruding ledge and not embracecompletely the periphery of the trough.

Various hangers adapted for this particular type of trough haveheretofore been proposed which are either of costly and complexconstruction, diificult to "apply 'to the trough .and'supp'ortingsurface -as well, awkward to pack for shipping or storing, or areineffective in gripping the trough.

Thus, it is an object of this invention to "provide an improved hanger"wherein the various sections or parts thereof are integral with on'eanother until"'rea'dily severedhy the applicator at the time the hangeris to be ins'talled; thereby facilitating compact packaging of numeroushangers for shipping "or storing.

It is "a further object of this invention 'to provide an improved hangerwhich is simple, yet sturdy, in 'con- 'struction and may beinexpensively and expeditiously fabricated.

It is a still further object of this invention to provide an improvedhanger which e'ifectively grips the protruding edge portion of thetrough without the use or screws, bolts, rivets, or the like.

It is a still further object of this invention to provide "an improvedhanger which is adapted to effectively accommodate troughs varyingwidely in size and shape.

It is a still 'furtherobject of this invention to provide an improvedhanger which is easy to handle and "apply even by one not skilled in theart. 7 7

Further and additional objects will appear from the description,accompanying drawings, and appended claim.

In accordance with one embodiment 'of this invention, a hanger forsecuring a trough to a supporting surface is provided comprising aprimary section having a first portion for attachment 'to the supportingsurface and 'a second portion for contacting the protruding edge portion of the trough. Integrally connected to the primary section is asecondary section ,The juncture between the sections is weakened topermit ready severance of the sections prior to applying the hanger inposition. The secondary section, when severed from the primary section,is disposed in substantially coextensive relation with the secondportion of the primary section and is adapted to engage the protrudingtrough edge portion. Subsequent :to the secondary section being broughtinto engagement with the trough, the second portion :of the primarysection and the secondary section are detach- .ably afiixed .to oneanother to effect clamping of the ,protruding trough edge portiontherebetween.

For a more complete understanding of the invention, reference should bemade to the drawing wherein:

Figure 1 is a fragmentary perspective view of one 2,879,961 1C :PatentedMar. 31, 1959 tom of the improved-hanger-shown securing a trough toaneave;

Fig. 2 is 'a fragmentary side elevational view of "the hanger shown inFig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary perspective'exploded view of s second form ofimproved hanger lsh'own in combination with a portion of the trough;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary perspective 'view of a third form of improvedhanger shown in 'g'ripping-relation'wi'th the trough; V I

Fig. 5 is similar 'to Fig. 3 but'show's a fourth foi'ihof the improvedhanger; I

Fig. .6 is a fragmentary perspective view of a "fifth 'form "of improvedhanger "showing the s'ecti'oirs "thereof disengaged and in 'askew'edrelation;

Fig. 7 'is a fragmentary perspective view of the improved hanger shownin Figs. 1 and 2 prior to severing 'of the sections thereof; and

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary perspective view of a sixth form of improvedhanger prior to the sections thereof being severed.

Referring now to the drawings and more particularly to 'Fig. '1, oneform it) of the improved hanger is shown for use in anchoring orsecuring a trough 11 "to -a roof .12. The trough 11, in this instance,is shown to be a style common referred to in the trade as a crown type.The trough has the back or inward side 13 thereof test ing against theeave 12' of thereof. The outward edge portion of the trough is bentinwardly to form a ledge 14. The inward edge of the ledge is turned backunder upon itself to form a hem 15 "which provides greater stiffness forthe ledge.

The hanger 10 is formed of two sections 16 and 1 7., which, duringfabrication of the hanger, are formed integral with one another as seenin Fig. 7. The juncture 18 of the two sections is weakened by a scoreline so that the two sections may be readily severed before the hangeris applied to the roof and trough. If desired, the two sections may beintegral with one another at the opposite end of section 16, as seenmore clearly in Fig. 8.

"Section 16, which is the primary section, is formed of strap materialand has one end portion 20 thereof adapted to be aflixed to the roof 12.Portion "20 is provided with a plurality of apertures 21 which areadapted to accommodate nails or screws 22. The nails 22 are driven intothe planks forming a part of the roof. When section 16 is secured inplace, the roof shingles 23 overlie end portion 20 and conceal it fromview. Approximately 8. half, or more, of section 16 projects outwardlyfrom the eave 12'. The end portion '24 of the protruding portion ofsection 16 is deformed, in this instance, so as to conform substantiallyto the underside of trough ledge 14 and also the inward side of aportion 25 of the trough adjacent the outer side of the ledge. Endportion 24 includes a plateau portion 26, which is adapted to contact aportion 27 of secondary section 17, a glen portion 28 adjacent saidplateau portion and adapted to subtend the hem "1 5, and a dependingflange portion 30, which contacts the inward side of trough portion 25.The plateau portion 26, as shown in this form 10 of the hanger, isprovided with a struck out finger 31, the function of which will bedescribed more fully hereinafter.

The "secondary section 17, in hanger form 10, is substantially L-shape'din cross-section and is adapted to 'ove'rlie the exposed side of ledge'14 and a part of adjoining portion '25 of the trough 11. The longerportion 27 of section .17 contacts the upper side of ledge 14 and isprovided with an aperture 32 through which the struck out finger 31,when it is olfset upwardly as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 7, isthreaded. Once the In a second form 34 of the improved hanger, shown in-Fig. 5, the end portion 24 of section 16 is provided with anaperture 35formed in the plateau portion 26 in place of the struck out finger 31.In turn, the longer portion 2710f section 17 is provided with a struckout finger 36 in place of aperture 32. Other than these minor changes,

forms and 34 of the hanger are the same. In assem-j bling hanger form34, finger 36 is offset downwardly and extends through aperture 35 andthen is bent over the underside of plateau portion 26 and locks thesections in place.

A third form 37 of the improved hanger is shown in Fig. 4 wherein theprotruding portion 38 of section 16 overlies the ledge 14 and portion 25of trough 11. The segment 40 of portion 38 is substantially flat andcontacts the exposed side of ledge 14. The outer edge of segment 40 isoffset downwardly to form a flange 41 which is adapted to engage theexposed surface of trough portion 25. Segment 40 is provided with anaperture42,

which is adapted to accommodate a struck out finger 43 formed onsecondary section 44.

portion 24 ofsection 16 of the hanger form 10, shown in Figs. 1 and 2.

A modified form 45 of third hanger form 37 is shown in Fig. 3, wherein astruck out finger 46 is formed in segment 40 in place of aperture 42,and an aperture 47 is formed in section 44 in place of the struckoutfinger 43. Aside from the reversal of the struck out finger andaperture, hanger forms 37 and 45 are the same.

In Fig. 6 an additional form 48 of the improved hanger is shown which issubstantially the same as hanger form 10 except for the shape of thestruck out finger 50 formed on secondary section 17 and the aperture 51formed in the plateau portion 26 of section 16. Finger 50 issubstantially T-shape and has the stem or neck portion 52 thereofintegral with section 17. The cross portion 53 of the finger 50 isspaced from section 17 when the finger is bent as shown and is adaptedto be threaded through aperture 51. Finger 50 has cross portion 53disposed at substantially a right angle to flange 33.

Aperture 51 is elongated and is in spaced substantially The shapeof-sec-,. ondary section 44 is substantially the same as the endparallel relation with respect to flange 30 and with flange 33 ofsection 17 when the two sections are in clamping relation with thetrough 11. The center portion 54 of aperture 51 is enlarged and is ofsuch dimension as to accommodate neck portion 52 of finger 50 and permitthe latter to twist relative to the aperture 51, once the cross portion53 of the finger has been threaded therethrough. The center portion 54of aperture 51 is not of such size as to permit the cross portion 53 topass therethrough unless the cross portion and aperture are in alignedrelation. Thus, when assembling hanger 48, secondary section 17 is firstplaced in overlying position on the trough ledge 14 and trough portion25, and then primary section 16 is positioned beneath section 17 and inaskewed relation therewith so that the cross portion 53 of finger 50 maybe threaded down through aperture 51. Once neck portion 52 isaccommodated within the center portion 53 of aperture 51, the applicatortwists section 16 about neck portion 52 as an axis through a sector ofapproximately 90 until the ledge 14 and portion 25 of the trough areclamped in place. Flange 30 of section 16 will yield downwardly a slightamount so that it can readily pass over hem 15 when the section 16 isbeing twisted relative to section 17. The length of neck portion 52 isslightly greater than the thickness of the plateau portion 26 of section16. Subsequent to the sections 16 and 17 being disposed in alignedrelation, finger 50 may be bent back upon the underside of plateauportion 26 whereupon the sections are securely locked in clampingrelation. 'When the sections are in locked relation, the free end ofsection 16 may be affixed to the roof 12 in a manner as heretoforedescribed.

A slightly modified form 55 of the hanger 48 is shown in Fig. 8 whereina struck out finger 56, similar to finger 50, is formed in plateauportion 26 of section 16 in place of aperture 51. Likewise, in section17 an aperture 57, similar to aperture 51, is formed in section 17 inplace of finger 50. Other than these slight modifications, hanger forms48-and 55 are the same. The assembling of hanger forms 48 and 55 is thesame with the exception that finger 56, subsequent to being threadedthrough aperture 57, is bent over the exposed side of section 17. It isto be noted in both hanger forms 48 and 55 that the primary section 16subtends the ledge 14.

In instances where no hem 15 is formed on the trough, the plateau andglen portions 26 and 28 may be coplanar.

Thus, it will be seen that an improved hanger has been provided which isof simple sturdy construction, inexpensive and expeditiously fabricated,and may be readilypacked. for shipping or storage. Furthermore, thehanger effectively clamps the trough without the use of screws,

bolts, or rivets., 1

While several embodiments of this invention are shown above, it will beunderstood, of course, that the invention is not to be limited thereto,since many modifications may be made, and it is-contemplated, therefore,by the appended claim, to cover any such modifications as fall withinthe true spirit and scope of this invention.

I claim:

A trough hanger adapted to overlie and engage an outer inturncd edge ofa trough for attaching it to a supporting roof surface, said hangercomprising a continuous bar having at one end a relatively verticalflange and an adjoining relatively horizontal portion, an offset portionadjacent said relatively horizontal portion provided with an upturnedlug, an extended flat portion continuing from said offset portion, and arelatively horizontal slotted flat portion and an upturned verticalflange connected to said extended fiat portion by a weakened junctureand forming the opposite end of said continuous bar as formed, saidrelatively horizontal flat portion and said upturned vertical flangeserving as a separate piece when severed at said weakened juncture forcooperating with said first vertical 'flange and said horizontal portionby clampingly engaging the outer inturncd edge of the trough with saidlug entering the slot of said horizontal flat portion, and said extendedflat portion overlying the open face of the trough and engaging thesupporting roof surface.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS

